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“Prove it to me,” I demanded.

He took another step toward me, and I mirrored it backward. “Feel my hands. I am not dead. The undead can’t speak.”

“Can’t their masters make them speak?” My heart hammered so loud I could barely think straight. Could I leave him here knowing I might be wrong?

“I don’t know...but they wouldn’t know you. Our history. I know you, Zaria.”

“Anyone might know my name. I need you to prove it to me.” I drew my sword to keep him in his place.

“I’m the one who taught you to use that thing, and you’d pull it on me?” He laughed with the same humor he always had in the face of any obstacle.

I exhaled a long-held breath. “I believe you… but you have to come with me. The outpost is going to be destroyed to kill all the Vivi Mortui.” If he stayed here, he’d be dead.

He glanced behind him, and I raised my sword. He held up his hands. “I have to make sure they haven’t seen me down here. They trust me now to do my chores without being watched, but they sometimes check. I don’t know how long I could be gone before they’d notice and come looking.” His eyes trailed over me like he was taking me in for the first time. “Who are you with?”

“I can’t tell you until we are out of here. Just in case.”

He nodded. “A lot has changed.”

“So much.”

“Maybe it’s better you go. If they realize I’m missing, it might ruin your plan. It’s better the undead are taken out than left to claim more.”

“I can’t leave you.” My heart was shattering into a million pieces. I couldn’t lose Luka again today. Not with Kol in such danger.

“What if it alerts them you’re here?”

“I will deal with it.” Nyx would do the same for Kol. I knew I was making the right decision.

“I love you, but I can’t risk it. Go.”

I pressed my eyes closed. “Don’t make those your last words to me.”

“I need you to know.”

“It’s not okay. Not if you won’t come with me.” I gave him a look he was sure to understand. “Let’s go. I’m not leaving without you.”

“You’d stay and die by my side?” A smile edged at the corners of his lips.

“Fuck.”

“Zaria! This new life has given you a filthy mouth."

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go.”

“Only if you insist.” He gave me that smile, the one that let me know he wanted more, and I had to stop him before he made himself dragon bait.

“You can’t be that way with me anymore, Luka. Everything has changed. I’ve met someone.”

“I see.” Pain flashed in his eyes for a moment, and then it was gone. “We have to go.”

Nyx did a double take when I came around the corner with Luka in tow.

“It’s a long story,”I said quickly.

“Is this him?” Luka asked, and I could already tell this was going to be a problem.

“Yes,” I said to Luka before turning to Nyx. “Anything?”